Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation supports an enormous range of educational initiatives across the United States (and worldwide), especially as related to "advancement of human knowledge" in about a dozen areas (e.g., Capacity building and technical assistance, Communications and public education, Evaluation and assessment, etc). 

Get more details at  or search their database of projects.

Some of the areas and initiatives include: Democratic and Accountable Government (e.g., Increasing Civic and Political Participation), Economic Fairness (e.g., Ensuring Good Jobs and Access to Services), Metropolitan Opportunity (e.g.,Expanding Access to Quality Housing, Connecting People to Opportunity etc.), and Educational Opportunity and Scholarships (e.g., Transforming Secondary Education), and Freedom of Expression (e.g., Supporting Diverse Arts Spaces etc). But that's just a small part of the picture; in 2011, the Ford Foundation distributed $422 million in grants (!) worldwide.

Meriden Foundation

The slightly mysterious Meriden Foundation (no web site) gives away a LOT of money each year in grants and scholarships (over $1 million in 2009). Pretty generous!

Though the New Britain and Meriden Public Libraries are listed in some of the available Form 990’s, (see 2009's), I didn't see any others at a glance through the list. 

The Foundation states that ‘requests should benefit the greater Meriden area,’ though I see that some awards are national in scope (e.g., American Cancer Society). i think that's your cue. Perhaps nearby libraries can tap into the generosity? Or, better, band together for a cause that is important to MF and that benefits the whole region? 

Do it!